Make You Mine, page 8
part #1 of Fireweed Harbor Series Series
I let out a little sigh. “No more so than you do.” I gave her a friendly nudge with my elbow.
Tessa had just gotten out of a sticky divorce. She was swearing on anything to be sworn on that she would never fall in love again.
“I’m good. I’m going to enjoy being single for the rest of my life. In fact, I did laundry the other day just because it was just my laundry. It was one of those mini loads. I set it on the short cycle, and it was amazing.”
“You might change your mind.” I shrugged. “I’m just glad you’re on the other side of that.”
“No shit. My marriage was an epic disaster. Anyway, before your hot man crush gets back and sweeps you off your feet for dinner, can I propose we meet for brunch this weekend?”
“Yes! Sunday. I’m not working at the coffee shop. Let’s plan on it.”
Rhys reappeared, and we headed in to dinner. As soon as he sat down, he announced, “Cathy says she plans to stay in town for a month or more.”
Chapter Twenty
Rhys
I had a sinking feeling that Blake might be right about Cathy. It didn’t change a thing for me, except for being a nuisance. She’d been touchy-feely with me when we’d been talking, a little arm brush here and there, a tad too familiar. I didn’t want to dwell on Cathy, though.
Haven set down her fork, lifting her napkin and dabbing at her mouth before she laid it on the table. “That was so good.”
She’d gotten a seared salmon steak with a lemon tarragon sauce. I’d gotten the steak Blake had recommended. We’d tasted bites from each other’s plates.
She cocked her head to the side, studying me before commenting, “You’re thinking.”
“I’m always thinking,” I teased lightly.
“Maybe, but you look worried. You look…” She paused, drumming her fingertips on the table. “Worried and annoyed, maybe?”
I hesitated. I didn’t want to give her a reason to worry about anything because there was nothing to worry about with Cathy. But I also knew with Cathy announcing her plans to stay in town for a little while that she would be around. I didn’t precisely trust Cathy.
I took a quick breath. “Like I said, Cathy told me she’s planning to stay in town for a little while.”
Haven’s brows hitched up as she nodded.
“She says she wants to give us time to get to know Matthew. I’ll be honest, I don’t trust the situation. She was initially hesitant about us getting to know him after it was clear he was not my son. Of course, my mom wants to get to know him, and so do the rest of us.”
“You haven’t said, but do you think she really thought he was yours?”
“She said as much at the meeting.”
“Do you think something else is going on?”
I shrugged because I didn’t genuinely know. “Hard to say. She’s getting money. If that’s what she’s after, we’re giving her exactly what she wants.”
“I suppose you should just wait and see. I know this is probably bringing up a lot about Jake.”
“It is.”
Haven studied me quietly for another moment. “Do you want to talk about it?”
I shook my head. “Not right now. Jake’s death will always be a sore spot for my family. There’s not a whole lot to say about it other than that.”
She reached across the table, where my hand was resting, and laced her fingers through mine. “I know. I’m sorry.”
“Thank you.” My voice came out gruff, and I cleared my throat.
Someone laughed at a table nearby, and our server appeared, glancing back and forth between us. “Are you finished eating?”
Haven smiled up at him. “Yes. Everything was great.”
He collected our plates, asking, “Dessert?”
Haven caught my eyes. “What do you think?”
“I think we should share that chocolate mousse.”
“I can vouch for it,” the server offered with a quick smile. “It’s very good.”
“Let’s share it,” Haven said with a grin.
My sister’s voice sounded from behind me, and I glanced over my shoulder to see her approaching our table. She stopped beside us, her smile warm. “Well, hello, lovebirds,” she said.
I cast her a dry look.
“Lovebirds?” Haven teased as she looked up at McKenna.
“Rhys is in love with you, so you’re lovebirds. It’s so good to see you back together.” McKenna’s hand landed on my shoulder and she squeezed lightly before it fell away. “How was dinner?”
“Excellent,” Haven said. “My only complaint here is that they rotate the specials. I know every place does that, but they’re always so good. I’d like them to keep everything on the menu.”
McKenna chuckled. “Agreed. We’ll have to tell David.”
“Did you taste the gooseberry wine?” I asked.
“I did. Very good. Anyway, I just wanted to say hello. I meant to get here sooner, but work was busy.”
McKenna handled public relations for our corporation and liked to keep it personal. She had a small department and kept on top of everything.
“It’s always busy,” I replied.
My sister rolled her eyes. “True story. Good to see you both.”
I bit back the urge to point out that I saw her almost every day. But I knew she was commenting on Haven and me being back together, so I didn’t. She asked Haven about her online business. McKenna was planning to hire Haven to create some cards for an event for our foundation. I was relieved for the distraction because I really didn’t want to dwell on any news about Cathy.
After McKenna departed, Haven smiled over at me. “I think she’s happy we’re having dinner.”
“She’s thrilled,” I said dryly. “I’m surprised she didn’t cheer for us.”
Haven was quiet for a beat before lifting her glass of water and taking a swallow.
“Have you heard from Deacon recently?” I asked.
“We haven’t talked in a week or so. He told me I shouldn’t have made assumptions so quickly around the child support paperwork.”
I laughed softly. “Well, he is my best friend. I would hope so.”
When she bit her bottom lip and her cheeks tinged pink, I wanted to lean across the table and kiss her. That was the thing with Haven—every moment was foreplay.
Our dessert arrived, and within moments, I decided watching Haven eat chocolate mousse was a special form of torture.
She lifted the spoon, her lips closing around it as she dragged it out slowly, murmuring, “Mmmmm.” When she drew it away, she slid her tongue along her bottom lip and closed her eyes. “So good,” she enthused when she opened them.
It was good, but now I just wanted to finish and get out of here.
We were seated in a small booth, tucked into a corner. I slid around the curved seat beside her, placing my palm on her knee. “Why don’t you just eat all of it?”
She peered up at me. “I can’t finish this, or I’ll be way too full.”
I took a bite, sliding my hand up her thigh under the hem of her skirt.
“One more bite,” I murmured as I used my other hand to lift the spoon for her.
Haven’s lips closed around the spoon. She let out a little moan, her eyes on mine the whole time. Reflexively, my fingers pressed into the soft give of her thigh. She shifted her legs, and I couldn’t resist, sliding my palm up to cup her mound
She blinked. “Rhys!” she whispered fiercely.
“Nobody can see.” I teased my fingers over the damp silk.
I hadn’t forgotten the taste of her from earlier, hours ago now, when I had teased her in the car before we came in.
“Let’s go,” I whispered gruffly, reluctantly drawing my hand away.
I had already sent the server off with my credit card, and he conveniently returned just then. I added a generous tip before we left.
With her hand firmly in mine, we walked through the restaurant and out the back entrance.
Need was cracking its whip behind me. Even the parking lot was crowded with groups of people walking in and others leaving. As we crossed to the parking area behind the main offices for Fireweed Industries, I made a quick decision. “Let’s go to my office.”
Haven came to a stop, and I looked down. “Now?” she squeaked.
“Right now.”
Her lips curled at the corner as she whispered, “Okay.”
I keyed in the combination to the back entrance and forced myself to wait, making sure the door locked automatically behind us. I took her hand and tugged her up the stairs. The offices were dark, and the carpeted floor muted our footsteps. We made it up to the second floor, where my office was. We moved down the hallway, out of sight of the windows that looked over Main Street.
I turned her against the wall, placing my palms on either side of her shoulders as I looked down at her. “I need you.”
Her eyes held mine as she nodded once. I claimed her mouth in a kiss, and her tongue met mine, stroke for stroke. Her palm pressed against my chest, and my heart lunged toward it. After a month of missing her fiercely, I felt reckless, rushed, and near frantic for her.
I ran my hand down her side, pausing briefly to cup her breast and drag my thumb roughly over her nipple. Hooking my fingers on the hem of her skirt, I dragged it up, bringing my hand right back to where it had been earlier. I didn’t wait before shoving her panties to the side and delving my fingers into her slippery wet folds.
I broke free from our kiss, staring into her dark, passion-hazed gaze as I sank two fingers into her, knuckle-deep. Her hips bucked into my touch.
“Fuck, Haven, you’re so wet,” I bit out.
Her head thumped against the wall. “Rhys… I… need…”
Forcing myself to break away, I grabbed her hand and tugged her another few steps down the hallway into my office. I kicked the door shut behind us. A moment later, we were in front of my desk. I was rushed as I yanked her panties down. By some miracle, I got them off without getting them tangled in her boots. I lifted her up onto my desk, shoving her skirt up around her hips. The only light came from the security light in the corner, low and dim.
“Spread your knees, sweetness.”
She complied instantly. The sight of her pussy bared for me—slick, swollen, and pink from her arousal—sent a shot of blood straight to my groin. I was already aching with need for her.
She reached between her thighs, almost as if she couldn’t help herself, teasing her fingers through her wet folds.
“Fuck me,” I groaned.
Haven held my gaze. “Please do,” she rasped.
She moved her hand away, reaching toward me, deftly unbuttoning and unzipping my jeans. Her palm slid into my briefs, and she shoved my jeans and boxers down around my hips. My cock sprang free. I growled when she curled her palm around it, her touch silky smooth.
“Baby, I need to taste you,” I whispered through gritted teeth.
She looked up at me. I reached down, tugging her hips closer to the edge of the desk before leaning down and bringing my mouth to her sex. She tasted salty, tangy, and a little sweet. I savored the way her hips bucked against my mouth and the sting on my scalp when one of her hands gripped my hair as she cried my name.
I knew how to bring her to the edge. Sinking my fingers inside her again, I pumped slowly as I swirled my tongue around her clit before sucking lightly. She shuddered against me, crying my name as she came against my mouth.
I waited until the ripples started to slow before drawing back and straightening. Her breath was coming in sharp pants. I couldn’t wait any longer. I needed to be inside her.
Fisting my cock, I brought my mouth to hers and kissed her as I notched my crown at her entrance. I lifted my head, waiting until she said, “Please, Rhys.”
I filled her slowly, inch by inch, watching as her lips parted. She let out a little whimper when I seated myself fully.
“Look at me, sweetness,” I murmured when her lashes started to fall.
She looked up, staring into my eyes as I began to pump into her, savoring the feel of her silky, clenching sheath as I drove deep with each thrust. My release was right there, my balls tightening and lightning about to strike.
“Come for me, just once more.”
Gripping her hip with one hand, I reached between us and instantly found her swollen clit, slippery from her arousal. Her eyes went wide before she cried out sharply and her pussy clenched around me.
I finally let go, and that lightning struck, sizzling through me in a fiery burst. I shuddered against her.
Chapter Twenty-One
Haven
Rhys held me close with one arm wrapped around my waist and the other sifting through my hair. I could feel the thundering beat of his heart against my chest as my own galloped along.
He’d just fucked me in his office. It felt dirty and intensely intimate.
God, I’d missed him so. It wasn’t the sex and the orgasms, although those were incredible—it was how I felt with him. So close to him, so protected and cherished.
Rhys was solicitous after we untangled ourselves, helping me tidy my clothes. He paused at the door to his office before opening it, looking down at me. My belly flipped. Even though my body was sated, I knew it was only temporary. Emotional aftershocks of our intimacy reverberated through me as almost a visceral feeling.
“What?” I finally asked.
His shoulders rose with a breath, falling as he let it out. He held one of my hands and squeezed it gently before lifting my palm and brushing a kiss across the back of it.
“Nothing new,” he murmured, bending low and dusting a kiss across my lips.
As we walked through the offices, it felt as if we were in a secret world of our own since no one else was there. Once we were in his SUV and he was driving the short distance home, he slid his gaze to mine briefly. “You’ve ruined my desk for me.”
“Ruined?” I teased.
His chuckle was low and sent heat in a swirl through me. I had told myself I was going to be resolute and take things slow. When he parked in front of his house—the proximity to mine the very reason I’d ended up stumbling into this lust-fueled relationship with him—I looked over, studying his profile. The streetlight caught glints of dark gold in his hair. He had strong cheekbones, the lines delineated in the shadowed light. His nose was straight, almost perfectly so, and he had a strong, square jaw. I wanted to trail my fingertips along it. That was the problem with him. I always wanted more.
Even though I had told myself I wasn’t going to let him spend the night, I did. I was the one who invited him in. He hesitated a little, saying, “We’re going to take it slow.”
I pointed out the obvious. “Taking it slow doesn’t mean we can’t sleep together. Considering what just took place in your office, that might be the least of our worries.”
He chuckled and kissed me. After that, I slept curled up against his side, telling myself we would be okay this time.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Haven
One week later
* * *
“There you go,” I said, sliding a tray of to go coffees across the counter.
The woman waiting stuffed a twenty-dollar bill in the tip jar. “Thank you!” She smiled over at me. “I know this order was complicated. I took this cruise with my friends, and we’re having a blast, but three of them like really elaborate coffee drinks.”
I grinned. “Well, I suppose there are worse things to worry about.”
“Absolutely. It’s my divorce cruise, and they’ve made it much better.”
Since she smiled with her comment, I smiled again, waving as she left. Another cruise ship was in town, and we were slammed. By the time I got to the end of the line, my wrists were tired from working the espresso machine.
I shook my arms out, and Hazel smiled over at me. “You can slow down the pace, you know,” she said as she organized the baked goods display on the counter.
“It doesn’t make less work,” I returned.
She laughed softly, glancing around the café. While patrons occupied all the tables, the lunch rush was mostly over. The locals getting lunch were already seated and served, and we’d finally gotten through a solid hour of one customer after another coming in for coffee.
I started wiping down the espresso machine and the counters. Hazel finished transferring the afternoon selection of baked goods into the display case and glanced my way as she turned and rested her hips on the counter.
“How are things with Rhys?”
I almost laughed—not at her question but at myself. He was definitely wooing me. He’d taken me out to dinner four times in a single week. We’d spent all but two nights together. My restraint was a joke, although I suppose his was as well.
As my cheeks heated, Hazel’s smirk was sly. “I guess it’s going well.”
My lips tugged into a smile. “I think so. I just don’t want to screw it up this time.”
“You didn’t screw it up before.”
“I think I kind of did. Things moved really fast. Against my better judgment, I fell for him. I’m still convinced he’s out of my league.”
Hazel studied me before rolling her eyes. “I don’t agree.”
“Of course, you don’t agree,” I retorted. “You’re my protective boss.”
“And I have eyes,” she countered pointedly. “Rhys is handsome. And you’re beautiful.”
“But—” I began.
She held her palm up in the air, shaking her head sternly. “But what? You don’t see yourself the way others do. You remember feeling awkward in high school and letting that define you. Most people feel awkward in high school. It’s a hellish time.” She visibly shuddered.
